Iraqi espionage case now in jury's hands

Lawyers gave closing arguments at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse on Friday after the nearly two-week trial of Sami Khoshaba Latchin. Federal prosecutors said Latchin was sent to the U.S. to recruit collaborators to collect information on opposition groups. His defense contended there was no evidence that Latchin was acting as an intelligence officer.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Vickie Peters pointed to the testimony of top Iraqi intelligence service officers who testified that Hussein himself ordered a spy-planting operation.

Latchin's lawyers asked jurors to "question authority" and the government's witnesses, who had plenty of reasons to protect themselves.